Combination support



April 6, 1943.

B. WILSON COMBINATION SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1942 ,Burfan April 6, 1943. 5 WILSON- COMBINATION SUPPORT Filed Feb. 19, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 .fiurfon'mi x Patented Apr. 6, 1943 UNlTED I era-Ties ear T OFFICE 7 Claims.

This-invention relates to a combination support and more particularly to a combination step-ladder and lean-to scaffold support.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a support of simple construction Other objects and advantages of the invention willhereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment. thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showingthe I support assembled as a step-ladder,

Figure 2 is a front elevational view showing the support in a folded or nested position,

Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing the support assembled as a scaffold lean-to,

Figure 4 is an elevational view taken at right angles to Figure 3 and looking toward the support from the left-hand side of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 55 of Figure 2, a

Figure 6 is a plan view, partly in sections, showing portions of the brace disconnected, and

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 'l'l of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, I0 designates generally the support inits entirety and which includes a ladder member, designated generally II, and a brace, designated generall I2.

The ladder member I I includes a pair of corresponding side pieces I3 which are connected by spaced rungs I4. As best seen in Figure 1, the ends of the rungs I4 are countersunk in corresponding edges of the side pieces I3 and are connected thereto by a fastenings I5. As seen in Figure 2, the side pieces I 3 converge from their lower to their upper ends.

The brace I2 includes an upper section formed by a bar I6 and a lower section, designated generally IT. The upper end of the bar I6 is disposed between the upper ends of the side pieces I3 and is provided with an opening I8 which loosely receives a bolt of a nut and bolt fastening I9. The bolt of the fastening IS also extends through the upper ends of the side pieces I3 for pivotally connecting the brace I2, at its upper end, to-the upper 'end of the ladder member II. The lower brace section I! includes a pair of corresponding legs 20 which are disposed in upward- 1y converging relationship to one another and which are connected bymeans of diagonal braces 2|, the ends of which are countersunk in the outer edges of legs 20 and which are secured thereto by fastenings 22. The upper ends of the legs 20 are bevelled on their inner sides, as seen at 23 to rest flush against the sides of the bar I6, intermediate of its ends. Bar l6, intermediate of its ends, is provided with an opening 24 which ali ns with the openings 25 in the upper ends of the legs 2-0 to receive the bolt of a nut and bolt fastening 26 which pivotally connects the brace section I1, at its upper end, to the intermediate portion of the bar I 6. Bar I6 is provided with an opening 21, adjacent to the free end, and the legs 20 are provided with openings 28 to align therewith to receive a bolt of a nut and bolt fastening 29 for holding the brace sections, I6 and IT, in extended positions relatively to each other, as best seen in Figures 1, 2 and 5. Between the free end portion of the bar I6 and the complementary portion of the legs 20 are interposed wedgeshaped spacing members 30 through which the bolt of the fastening member 29 extends. Below the diagonal braces 2|, legs 20 are braced by a cross-brace 3 I, the ends of which are countersunk in the outer edges of the legs 20.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that when the brace sections I6 and H are connected by the fastenings 26 and 29, that the brace I2 will be retained in an extended position, and may be disposed at an acute angle to the ladder member I I to form a step-ladder, as seen in Figure 1. When the support I0 is not in use, brace I2 is swung to a folded or nested position between the side pieces I3, as seen in Figures 2, 5 and 7. Brace I2 is narrower than the ladder II so that when it is folded into the ladder and against the rungs I4, the outer edges of the legs 20 will not project beyond the back edges of the side pieces I3, as seen in Figures 5 and '7.

The side pieces I3 are provided with openings 32 near their lower ends and the legs 20 are provided with openings 33 adjacent to their lower ends. By removing the fastenings 29 the lower brace section can be swung relatively to the bar section I6 on the pivot formed by the fastening 26 so that the openings 33 can be aligned with the openings, as best seen in Figure 4, for receiving nut and bolt fastenings 34 to position the brace section IT, as seen in Figure 3. The brace section I! is thus disposed to form a brace for the bar IE to hold it in the position as seen in Figure 3. The free end of the bar Hi can then be rested flush against an upright surface, such as a wall, as indicated in 35 in Figure 3, so that the support I0, when assembled as in Figure 3, will forma lean to scaffold support for an end or'a portion of a platform or plank 36. It will thus be readily apparent that two or more of the supports l0, when assembled as in Figure 3, will support a platform or plank 36 to thus form a scaffold of very simple construction.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims, as only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A structure of the class described comprising a straight ladder member including upwardly converging side pieces connected by spaced rungs, a bar having one end disposed between and pivotally connected to the upper ends of the side pieces, a brace including a pair of legs pivctally connected at corresponding ends thereof to the bar, intermediate of its ends, said brace being of a length to support the bar in an approximately horizontal position when the brace is in upwardly diverging relation to the straight ladder, and means for detachably fastening the legs to the free end of the bar to hold the brace in an extended position relatively to the bar, said bar and. brace, when thus arranged, being of substantially the same length as the ladder member, so that the bar and brace can be disposed at an acute angle to the ladder member, to form a step-ladder.

2. A structure as in claim 1, said fastening means being removable for positioning the brace at an angle to the bar, and means for connecting the opposite ends of the legs to the side pieces to position the bar at substantially a right angle to the ladder so that the last mentioned end of the bar can rest against an upright surface to position the support for use as a lean-t0 of a scaffold.

3. A structure as in claim 1, said legs being disposed in diverging relationship in a direction away from the bar.

4. A structure as in claim 1, said bar and brace being swingable into a nested position between the side pieces of the ladder.

5. A structure of the class described comprising a straight ladder member and a brace, said brace and ladder member being of substantially the same length and being pivotally connected at their upper ends, said ladder member and brace forming a stepladder, said brace being formed of sections connected in end to end relationship, said lower section being swingable relatively to the upper section to position said sections at an angle, and means for detachably connecting the lower end of the lower section to the ladder member so that the lower section will form a brace element to support the upper section at substantially a right angle to the ladder member to form a lean-to scaffold support.

6. A structure as in claim 5, said lower brace section including a pair of legs which are connected at their upper ends to the upper brace section and which diverge downwardlytherefrom.

7. A structure as in claim 5, said brace being foldable into the space between the side pieces of the ladder member.

' BURTON WILSON. 

